Section Preview. The Revolutionary War Period. Section4. Figure 15 The Tories

Transcription

1 Section4 The Revolutionary War Period It took a long time for news to get around the colonies, so it was May before word reached Georgia of the battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts on April 19, Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson described those battles as Here once the embattled farmers stood/and fired the shot heard round the world. The battles marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War and forced Georgians to take a stand. In just a few days, a group of radicals broke into the royal arms storehouse in Savannah and stole 600 pounds of gunpowder. Other protests followed quickly. Gunpowder used to fire cannon salutes on the king s birthday was tampered with and would not explode. A liberty pole was put up outside Tondee s Tavern. Tories were openly harassed. Guns were stolen from public warehouses, and no one paid any attention to what the governor said. In September 1775, Georgia s Joseph Habersham and Captain Oliver Bowen captured a British schooner carrying gunpowder. Georgia kept 9,000 pounds and sent 5,000 pounds to the newly formed Continental Army. Preparing for War Three weeks after the battles at Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress opened in Philadelphia. One of the early decisions made by the Congress was to send a petition to King George III, asking him to not take further unfriendly steps against the colonies. The king refused the petition. At the same time, the Congress also called for the creation of a Continental Army, which was to be led by George Washington of Virginia. Georgia was absent for the first few days, but on May 13, 1775, Lyman Hall of Midway arrived in an unofficial capacity. The other colonies were furious with Georgia because it did not seem very supportive. Some members of the Congress even called for punishing the youngest colony. Figure 15 The Tories Very shortly, however, Georgia was ready to act. In July 1775, a second Provincial Congress was held at Tondee s Tavern in Savannah. Unlike the Section Preview As you read, look for: the steps taken by Georgia and Georgians before the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the new government established by Georgia, Georgia s role in the American Revolution, and vocabulary terms: Second Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, ratify, Articles of Confederation, siege, and Treaty of Paris (1783). About one-third of the colonists remained loyal to Great Britain, and many of those lived in Georgia. Their reasons for staying loyal to Great Britain were as varied as the people themselves. Some believed that since the British king was still paying money to support the colonies, he had the right to rule them. Some believed that the British had founded the colonies and had the right to govern them. Many colonists still had family or relatives in Great Britain, and they did not want to put them in danger or to cause them to lose the perks of royal approval. Some colonists even split their families by sending some members of the family back to Great Britain. Some colonists feared that life under the control of rich Patriots would be even harder than life under the control of the British. Finally, some colonists were simply afraid of the well-organized, wellequipped British soldiers. Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 153

2 First Provincial Congress, this group was prepared to take positive steps. In addition to Lyman Hall, four others, all from Savannah, were chosen to go Philadelphia. In the group were Archibald Bulloch, John Houstoun, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Reverend John Zubly. The delegates were given no specific instructions to relay to the Continental Congress. Instead, they were asked to vote as they thought best for the common good of all Georgians. Finally, Georgia was ready to join ranks with the other colonies. Earlier, shortly after the first shots had been fired at the battles of Lexington and Concord, a Council of Safety had met and prepared to form a new government. To show they meant what they said, the group officially withdrew from Great Britain. In so doing, the Patriots left Governor Wright without power. Wright was arrested in mid-january of 1776 by the Liberty Boys when he asked the Council of Safety to allow British vessels to purchase supplies from the colony. A month later, Wright escaped and fled to Top: One of the first battles of a waiting British warship, leaving the Revolutionary War was the Council of Safety to govern the fought at Concord, Massachusetts in April Above: Georgia Provincial Congress issued colony. In the following April, the Did? You Know? Lyman Hall was declared an a series of guidelines, called Rules Patriots in Massachusetts enemy of the crown after and Regulations, which were to be were called minutemen signing the Declaration of used in governing Georgia until a because they could be ready Independence. more permanent document could to fight in a minute. be drawn up. 154 Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence

3 The Declaration of Independence In January 1776, Thomas Paine s pamphlet Common Sense appeared. In it, Paine urged the colonists to separate from Great Britain in language all people could understand. The pamphlet was a sensation and sold 120,000 copies in less than three months. By the end of the year, it had sold 500,000 copies. Paine quickly followed Common Sense with a series of pamphlets. In The Crisis, Paine wrote, These are the times that try men s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Paine had a great deal of influence on the actions of the Second Continental Congress. John Adams said, Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain. On July 4, 1776, over a year after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. When it was officially signed on August 2, 1776, the names of three Georgians Lyman Hall, George Walton, and Button Gwinnett appeared on the left side of the document, right below the signature of John Hancock. But it was over a month before Georgians found out how their representatives had voted or even what the Declaration said. The 1,458-word document, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, can be divided into three parts. The Preamble, or introduction, stated how the colonists felt about democracy. The second part, or body, listed twentyseven grievances (complaints) against King George III and his government that led the colonists to seek independence from Great Britain. The third part, the conclusion, declared the colonies to be an independent nation for all future times. The Declaration meant that the colonies we were one nation, still not in total agreement, but one nation nevertheless. When the Declaration of Independence was read in Georgia, it produced great excitement, although some colonists decided to return to Great Britain. Finally, Georgians began to prepare for war. They sent food and ammunition to the Continental Army and began to strengthen the home militia. Political Changes in Georgia Georgia joined the other colonies in celebrating the decision to become independent of Great Britain. The former colonies were tired of being governed and living under laws made by Great Britain, which they believed was both out of touch and too far away to understand their needs. The new goal Top: George Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Above: John Treutlen, Georgia s first governor. Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 155

4 History by the Numbers The Dunlap Broadside On the night of July 4, 1776, John Dunlap printed an unknown number of copies of the Declaration of Independence. Each document, called a broadside, was about 14 inches by 18 inches. Only 25 of those copies are known to exist. On July 19, 1776, the Continental Congress ordered another printer, Timothy Matlack, to engross (print in final, legal form) the Declaration of Independence. Members of Congress who were present in Philadelphia signed the engrossed copy on August 2, Other members of Congress signed later. The signed, engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence, which is 24 1 / 2 inches by 29 1 / 2 inches, is on permanent exhibit at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. In 1989, a man bought a painting at a flea market for $4. Hidden in the painting s frame was an original Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence. It was the 25th known copy of the document. It recently sold for $8.14 million, the highest price ever paid for an object sold at an Internet auction. 156 Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence for each colony was statehood. Each new state was to develop its own method of governance and pass laws that met its needs. Work was begun on a state constitution to replace the earlier Rules and Regulations. Writing the new constitution was not easy. Some citizens wanted a government like the one already in place, with most of the power in the hands of a few wealthy landowners and merchants. The Whigs, a more extreme group, wanted to give all the people of Georgia a chance to govern themselves. The Whigs won, and Georgia decided on a government that would be based on the separation of powers and the rights of citizens to agree with how they were governed. By May 1777, Georgia adopted its first state constitution at a constitutional convention held in Savannah. The parish system was done away with, and eight counties were formed. Burke, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Richmond, and Wilkes were named for British subjects who had been in favor of the Revolution; Liberty County was named in honor of American independence. Liberty is the character word for this chapter. What were the liberties that the young colonies wanted to secure for themselves? However well meaning the lawmakers were in developing the 1777 constitution, there were problems. Rather than a bicameral legislature, the constitution of 1777 provided for a unicameral, or one-house, legislature. This single legislative body had very broad powers, including the ability to make appointments for the judicial branch (the courts) and the executive branch (the governor). Stung by the loyalty of former governors to the king, the members of the constitutional convention wanted to limit severely the influence and power of the governor. They proposed a one-year term for the governor. The governor was to be selected by the legislature rather than voted on by the people. The actual power, therefore, was in the hands of twelve lawmakers from the legislature who served as an executive council. The executive council could

5 accept or reject any proposals initiated by the governor. The constitutional convention selected John Treutlen, a Salzburger, as the first state governor over Button Gwinnett. It also adopted a new state seal. Although the constitution of 1777 was changed in 1789, this first endeavor in providing for state s rights was an important step in Georgia s development. On July 4, 1778, Georgians ratified (approved) the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States of America. The Articles did not go into effect until January 1781, when Virginia and Maryland ratified it. The Revolutionary War in Georgia During 1777 and 1778, Georgian members of the Continental Army made several unsuccessful attempts to capture British-held St. Augustine and parts of east Florida. Little other fighting took place in Georgia. In December 1778, however, British troops attacked and took control of Savannah. Soon there were reports of looting, burnings, and even murders at the hands of British troops as they tried to force Tories to put down their arms or flee the area. A month later, the British took the port of Sunbury. Did You Know??George Walton, at age twenty-six, was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. An autograph of Button Gwinnett (below) is one of the most sought-after collector s autographs in the world. Today, it is valued at over $250,000. Before long, Augusta was under fire from British guns. In all three cases, the poorly armed and understaffed Georgia militia could do little to stop the British. Georgia was once again under British military rule, and Governor Wright returned to Georgia to take charge of the government. The Battle of Kettle Creek Morale throughout the colonies was at an all-time low. Finally, in February 1779, Georgia had a victory. A rebel militia group led by Colonel Elijah Clarke (after whom Clarke County is named) defeated a force of more than 800 British troops at the Battle of Kettle Creek, about eight miles from Washington, Georgia. The Battle of Kettle Creek was minor when compared to those fought in other parts of the country. It was, however, important to Georgia. The militia was able to take badly needed Cherokee Lands Creek Lands Wilkes Richmond Augusta Burke Effington Liberty Glynn Camden Map 25 Georgia s First Counties Savannah Chatham Map Skill: In which county is Savannah located? Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 157

6 Below: This French map, drawn in 1779, illustrates the French plans for the siege of Savannah. This battle marked the first time that American and French troops fought together. One of the heroes of the siege was Sergeant William Jasper. weapons and horses from the British soldiers, and the spirits of the Georgia militia were lifted by their victory. Did You Know?? The colonists who had The Siege of Savannah uniforms in the new In early September 1779, twentytwo French ships and 4,000 soldiers Continental Army wore blue because indigo, grown in the under the command of Charles Southern Colonies, was the Henri Comte d Estaing arrived off only color available. Tybee Island. Those troops joined about 15,000 Americans under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln. The combined armies laid siege to Savannah. A siege occurs when forces try to capture a fortified fort or town by surrounding it and preventing any supplies from reaching it. Finally, at daybreak on October 9, the American and French troops attacked British positions. The attack, which lasted only 45 minutes, failed. By the time it was over, more than 1,000 men with the American forces (821 of whom were French) and 40 British lay dead. Over 600 men were wounded. One of America s best foreign patriots, Polish Count Casimir Pulaski, had given his life for a country not his own. And, Savannah was set to remain in British hands for the next 3 1 /2 years. 158 Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence

7 Spotlight American Nancy Hart The Revolutionary War produced a number of heroes and heroines. One of those was a woman who was Georgia s most famous war heroine. Around 1771, Benjamin and Nancy Hart and their eight children settled twelve miles outside of what we now call Elberton. Several legends surround Nancy Hart. Probably the most repeated one concerns Colonel John Dooley, a neighbor of the Harts who was killed by Tories. A few days after Dooley s murder, five of those Tories stopped by Nancy s home and demanded that she cook dinner for them. As the men talked, Nancy overheard them bragging about the murder. Thinking quickly, Nancy brought out a jug of whiskey and offered it to the men. As they drank, they did not notice Nancy motioning to her daughters to go to the woods and sound the alarm for help. Enjoying their drink and food, they also did not realize that Nancy was quietly taking their rifles as she served them. When Nancy pulled the third rifle away, one of the men finally noticed. As the men rushed her. Nancy calmly pulled the trigger and killed one of them. She grabbed a second rifle and held the other soldiers at gunpoint until help arrived. Some reports say she may have killed two of the soldiers; in any event, the rest were soon put on trial and hanged. We may never know if the stories of Nancy Hart s courage are true. However, the legend of Nancy Hart remains as an example of the revolutionary spirit of Georgia. Hart County and its county seat, Hartwell, located in northeast Georgia, are named for her. Hart is the only county in Georgia named for a woman. Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 159

8 $ $ $ Spotlight on the Economy Financing the American Revolution How did the newly formed United States of America manage to find the funds to pay for its war against Great Britain? In 1775, as the Continental Congress began making plans for war, it decided to print and issue paper money called Continentals to pay for war materials, supplies, and soldiers salaries. But by 1778, the nation faced serious economic problems. The Continentals were worthless because there was nothing (gold or silver) to back them up. To complicate the economic situation, each state began to print its own paper money. By 1780, the new nation had printed over $241 million Continentals, and the individual states had issued almost $210 million of their own paper notes. Congress realized that the Continentals were of little value and tried to take them out of circulation. It also began to collect taxes to help pay off some of its loans. Loans and gifts from foreign countries helped the United States obtain the weapons, ammunition, and supplies it needed. Most of the loans were arranged by Robert Morris, a delegate to the Continental Congress who became special commissioner of finance in In 1781, Morris developed a plan for a national bank, the Bank of North America, to stabilize the economy and establish the credit of the new nation with the nations of Europe. But Robert Morris was not alone in finding funds for the new nation. He was greatly helped by Haym Salomon. Salomon was a wealthy, successful businessman described as a Broker to the Office of Finance, which meant that $ 160 Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence he helped the new government obtain loans from European nations, banks, and merchants. Because he was a trusted businessman, European bankers would loan money to Salomon when they had refused to loan it to Congress. Both Morris and Salomon gave their own personal fortunes to support the Revolution. Under the new Bank of North America, there was some relationship between the country s supply of gold and silver and its paper notes. As head of the Bank of North America, Morris issued treasury notes, called Morris Above: Pennsylvanian Robert Morris notes, that could be redeemed for hard currency. Congress also began to issue a new type of paper note that paid interest and that could be turned in for hard currency after a five-year period. The new government used the paper notes, the interest notes, and the treasury notes to pay for its revolution. After the war, Alexander Hamilton became the financial planner for the new government. The new nation had accumulated almost $78 million in debts from the war, and it needed about $4 million to operate its new government. However, the country s income was very limited. The United States earned about $4.4 million in tariffs (taxes) on goods and about $19,000 from other sources for a total federal income of $4,418,000. The young nation began its life under a system of deficit spending, owing and spending more than was available. It is a system we understand well today. In 2001, for example, the federal government cost $1.8 trillion to operate. $ $ $

9 Georgia was left in the hands of two governments, one royal and one rebel. Each government tried to take charge of the state, but neither was very effective. Some Georgians openly supported the king, while others just as openly supported the cause of independence. The major battles of the war were over, but guerrilla warfare both political and military continued in the backcountry of Georgia. The Battle of Yorktown In June 1781, Georgia s militia was again under the command of Colonel Clarke. With the help of Continental troops, Clarke took Augusta from the British. General George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army, was helped by French forces when he faced British General Lord Cornwallis in October 1781, at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia. The American forces won that battle, forcing Cornwallis to surrender. Cornwallis did not know that British ships carrying 6,000 men were on their way to help him. They arrived just six days after his surrender. Had the French not delayed the landing of the British ships, the results of the American Revolution might have been very different. By the spring of 1782, British forces in Georgia believed they could not defeat the Americans. They left Savannah, ending 3 1 /2 years of occupation. The Treaty of Paris was signed by Great Britain, France, and the United States in September Independence was finally a reality. There were only eleven battles and skirmishes on Georgia s soil. However, Georgians could Below: In October 1781, combined American and French forces trapped the British army at Yorktown, Virginia. British General Cornwallis surrendered on October 18, Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 161

10 be proud of their part in the Revolutionary War as the work of building a new country began. Blacks in the American Revolution One of the men who followed Colonel Clarke at Kettle Creek was a Revolutionary War hero named Austin Dabney. Dabney was a freeborn mulatto, a child of mixed parentage. He arrived in Georgia just before the war with a man named Richard Aycock. Aycock, a white North Carolinian, was not known for his bravery. Instead of joining the Georgia militia himself, Aycock proposed that Austin Dabney take his place. After much discussion, some of which centered on whether he was freeborn or a slave, Dabney was accepted. He proved to be a good soldier at Kettle Creek and was wounded in action. A family named Harris cared for him while his wounds healed. After the Revolutionary War, veterans were given plots of land as part payment for their military service. Many did not want Dabney to get his veteran s share of land. Above: During the heroic fighting at the Battle of Kettle However, Governor George Gilmer and some members of the Georgia legislature praised Dabney as a patriot. After months of debate, Dabney received Creek, Austin Dabney was hit by a rifle ball that passed a valuable piece of land in Madison County. When he moved to his new through his thigh. Dabney is home, he took the Harris family with him. Together, they made the property profitable. Austin Dabney died in 1834, fifty-five years after the Battle credited with saving the life of Elijah Clarke by giving the of Kettle Creek. colonel a horse after his had Dabney was just one of the many people of color who fought in the Revolutionary War. As early as the battles of Lexington and Concord, blacks took been shot out from under him. up arms against Great Britain in search of freedom. Thousands of slaves crossed over to British lines working as soldiers, boat pilots, cooks, musicians, and in many other jobs. The British both actively recruited blacks to serve as soldiers and captured slaves for use by the British Army. In November 1775, the British governor of Virginia Did You Know? offered freedom to all slaves willing? to bear arms against the rebelling During the Revolutionary War, colonists. His proclamation led almost as many colonists American leaders to accept blacks fought on the British side as into the Continental Army, promising that they would receive freedom Out of 282,000 men in the fought on the American side. at the end of their enlistment. The thirteen colonies, George government also made provisions Washington never had an to pay slave owners for all slaves army numbering over 25,000. freed in such a way. While there are 162 Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence

11 no exact figures on the participation of blacks in the Continental Army, it has been estimated that about 5,000 served. Although many blacks distinguished themselves in the Revolutionary War, support for their enlistment in the army varied. Southern states did not want to use slaves or freedmen as soldiers because the idea of recruiting and arming slaves raised fears of slave revolts. General George Washington, himself a fourth-generation slave owner, questioned the wisdom of using black troops, but most of the former colonies began to enlist both slaves and free blacks in the armies. Georgia and South Carolina were the only two states to refuse to legalize slave enlistments in their militias. Antislavery sentiment mounted after the war; in most states, public opinion turned strongly against slavery. In many states, blacks were given both their freedom and land at the end of the war. In the South, however, the decline of such staple crops as tobacco, indigo, and rice made the farmers reluctant to free their black slaves. Below: In 1775, General George Washington, leader of the Continental Army, recommended that blacks not be permitted to serve in the Continental Army. Looking Back at the Revolutionary War When fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord, the British had a number of advantages in the coming military conflict. They had a strong central government, while the thirteen colonies were separate governments with no real central power. The British had a wellequipped, professional army; the colonies had eager citizen-volunteers with little training, discipline, and equipment and with limited experience. Fortunately, many experienced European soldiers seeking adventure came to join America s cause. The British had the world s most powerful navy; the colonies had only merchant ships. The Americans did commission four battle ships in 1775 and authorized private ships to attack the British Navy and keep any profits they made. The British were well financed by their government; the colonies had no major sources of revenue for their new government. Perhaps the most important British advantage was the divided loyalties of the colonists. Almost one-third of the colonists were neutral, and a large number, almost 20 percent of the population, remained loyal to Great Britain. Despite the British military might, the colonists had four advantages that could not be overcome. First, they were fighting on their Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 163

12 By the Side of the Road Other than guerilla warfare and fighting between Tories and Patriots, there were few major Revolutionary War battles in Georgia. The British-controlled areas of north and east Florida were sandwiched between forces at St. Augustine and a small fort, Fort Tonyn, in what is now Camden County. When you travel in southeast Georgia, check out the area around Point Peter close to the Georgia-Florida boundary. home soil. They were fighting not only for their belief in freedom but also for their own homes and farms and villages. Second, the British were fighting very far from home and had to deal with long and dangerous supply lines. Third, the colonies had no central area that could be captured to declare victory. Fighting was spread out among all thirteen colonies, along the Gulf of Mexico, the western frontier, and even north of the Great Lakes in Canada. Fourth, the battles were fought over the rugged terrain of forests and swamps familiar to the colonists and not the open, flat battlefields that the British were accustomed to using. While everything seemed to favor the British over the colonists, the Americans won their Revolutionary War to become a new and independent nation. Above: King Carlos III of Spain supported the colonies in their war for independence. He secretly shipped arms, munitions, cattle, uniforms, medicine, blankets, and money to the American colonies. With Thanks to Spain Spain is an often forgotten ally in the American Revolution. Spain and France had been at war with Great Britain for almost one hundred years before the American Revolution. Spain was angry and embarrassed when it lost Florida and other territories at the end of the French and Indian War. It wanted revenge. Also, King Carlos III of Spain had become impressed with the colonials. Although he did not totally approve of the idea of colonials seeking independence since he himself had a number of colonies, he did want to help. For over five years, Spain sent a great deal of money and supplies to support the colonists. The funds came from people living in what is now Texas, New Mexico, California, and Mexico. Men from Spanish possessions in the region fought with the colonists. Spain also provided invaluable information from a very effective spy network. Although Spain was not in a position to open defy Great Britain, it did a great deal behind the scenes. Pedro Pablo of Bolea was the Spanish ambassador in France and met with Benjamin Franklin and others traveling to Europe to help break the British 164 Chapter 5: From Royalty to Independence

13 naval blockade. Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, provided military assistance against Great Britain in Florida, Louisiana, along the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Mississippi River Valley. He also helped the colonists move men, arms, and supplies through the Gulf of Mexico and on the Mississippi River while resisting British attempts to blockade the river. A Final Note The men who signed the Declaration of Independence showed extreme courage and took great risks. Had the colonists lost the war, each man who signed the document could have been shot for treason. Would you have been willing to risk your life and all that you owned for your belief in freedom? Chapter Summary In the years before the Revolutionary War, everyday life in the thirteen colonies remained difficult. Georgia became a royal colony in 1752 and as such was governed directly by the British king. Georgia continued to prosper, and many people who had left the colony when it was under the rule of the trustees returned to the royal colony. A new group of settlers from South Carolina and the West Indies bought land and moved to Midway, bringing slaves with them. Governor John Reynolds was the first royal governor. He was followed as governor by Henry Ellis and James Wright. Georgia gained land at the end of the French and Indian War. Its southern boundary was set at the St. Marys River, and the Indians gave up lands north and east of the Ogeechee and Savannah rivers northward to Augusta and south of the Altamaha River. A series of laws imposed by the British on the colonies increased resentment against British rule. In 1775, the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. In July 1776, Georgia joined the other twelve colonies in declaring independence from Great Britain. Georgia was occupied by British forces for most of the war. Several battles were fought on Georgia soil, including the Battle of Kettle Creek. The final battle of the Revolutionary War took place at Yorktown, Virginia. The official end of the war came with the signing of the Treaty of Paris of People of color, including Austin Dabney, fought in the Continental Army. It s Your Turn 1. Name the Georgia signers of the Declaration of Independence. 2. What was the purpose of tthe second part of the Declaration of Independence? 3. For whom were the original parishes of Georgia renamed as counties? 4. What was our country s first constitution called? Above: Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor of Louisiana, helped the American cause through diplomatic, financial and military exploits against Great Britain in the Mississippi River Valley, the Gulf Coast, Louisiana, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Section 4: The Revolutionary War Period 165